English Essay

Essay Requirements

Your essay should be at least 4 pages, typed and  double-spaced, using the MLA or APA format.

Important !!!

Save all pre-writing and rough drafts. You will need to hand in these along  with your evaluation sheet and final draft.

                                                 The Assignment

Write an essay that takes a position on a controversial issue. Present the issue to readers and take a position, and develop a convincing, well-reasoned argument. The issue must be arguable and not subject to absolute proof.

Guidelines

To write a position essay, you must first define the issue for readers and present its current situation clearly depending on the knowledge and information that your readers already know about the issue. After you delineate the issue, you must clearly state your position avoiding vagueness and indecision. This will be the thesis of your essay #2. To convince your readers that your position is right or much better than the opposition, you must develop your argumentative strategies which support your position. For example, you offer several key reasons (your topic sentences) and support them with examples, facts, statements from authorities, statistics, or your or others' personal anecdotes. Make the reasons explicit in the body paragraphs. Expecting the objections and alternative arguments that may refute your argument, you must counter-argue them logically. Choose the strongest counter-argumentative point and refute it convincingly by showing its logical weakness.  This will enhance the credibility of your essay and strengthen the argument.

Argumative essay

Introduction:

Begin with a hook sentence. (maybe suprsing statics)

Identify issue. Limit the topic area that you want to discuss.

Provide background information of the topic from your position.

Take a position and state it clearly. 

Forecast reasons of your position. (thesis last sentence in the introduction)

Bodies:

First body paragraph:

Explain and support first reason with supporting details such as facts, statistics, examples, statement from authority, evidence, anecdotes, scenarios, and personal experiences.

Second body paragraph:

Explain and support second reason with supporting details such as facts, statistics, examples, statement from authority, evidence, anecdotes, scenarios, and personal experiences.

Third body paragraph:

Refute opposing argument. (3-5 sentences from the opposing side)

Introduce one of the strongest reason of  your opponent's assertion.

Refute the reason by showing its logical weakness.  Show why it does not work.

 Fourth body paragraph:

Explain and support third reason with supporting details such as facts, statistics, examples, statement from authority, evidence, anecdotes, scenarios, and personal experiences.

Fifth body paragraph:

 Explain and support fourth reason with supporting details such as facts, statistics, examples, statement from authority, evidence, anecdotes, scenarios, and personal experiences.

Sixth body paragraph:

Introduce one of the strongest reason of  your opponent's assertion.

Refute the reason by showing its logical weakness.  Show why it does not work.

Conclusion:

Reasserting the position and framing the essay.

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